Whoever said, “high school is the best four years of your life,” clearly never went to college. The thought of graduating in less than a year puts me through five different stages of emotions.

The first is always excitement. The thought of walking across the stage and leaving behind those night classes and $400 textbooks (that we still never used, btw Dr. Inconsiderate) is indescribable.

That proud sensation slowly dies into thinking about all of my memories, and all of the lost ones (shout out Indiana, Pa. for $.50 wells).

Then comes the third stage, questioning if I should intentionally fail, put up with the lectures my parents will give me and enjoy another semester.

Here comes the fourth stage, when reality hits you. This is when you feel all of those emotions tear at your heart strings. This is when you realize you have to graduate and you need to appreciate college while you’re still here.

Seniors, that is the beauty of college. While you're here you make friends for life. Friends that you soon will have to say goodbye to. These friends are the bridesmaids in your wedding and guys, these are the men who are picking the strip club for your bachelor party.

But I know that when I am on stage, shaking my university president's hand, and finally holding that $100,000 piece of paper, the entire world is in front of me. This is why I spent hours in the library (obviously on talking floor to drown out the noise of my crying), spent more time working to afford my $500 textbooks and taking tequila shots on a Tuesday at 7 p.m. because I am stressed (might be a true story, might not be).

So, yes, I admit it. I, an unemployed, broke, senior in college, have a back-and-forth relationship with the word, “graduation.”

Oh, I forgot, the fifth stage. The contemplation stage. After all of those emotions, I am now contemplating spending my last $5 on cheap college bar drinks while I can.